Apparatus for flushing diapers and the like



Oct. 25, 1966 P TTE ET AL 3,280,605

APPARATUS FOR FLUSHING DIAPERS AND THE LIKE Filed June 1, 1964 INVENTORS 2 l3. give/29012 Ja/m BY Nina .4. Puffs/$0? wwfia wn Affamgys United States Patent 3,280,605 APPARATUS FOR FLUSHING DIAPERS AND THE LIKE John D. Patterson and Nina A. Patterson, both of Rte. 8, Box 918, Birmingham, Ala. Filed June 1, 1964, Ser. No. 371,478 2 Claims. (Cl. 68214) This invention relates to apparatus for flushing diapers and the like and has for an object the provision of means for holding a diaper whereby it may be flushed in a suitable container, such as a commode or the like, without losing the diaper.

Another object of our invention is to provide apparatus for flushing diapers and the like as a preliminary step in the laundering of diapers in which the hand of the operator does not remain in contact with the diaper during the flushing operation.

Another object of our invention is to provide apparatus for flushing diapers and the like in which a maximum amount of water or cleaning solution is circulated through the diaper during the flushing operation and at the same time the diaper is subjected to repeated squeezing or pressing actions.

A further object of our invention is to provide apparatus for flushing diapers and the like which shall be simple of construction, economical of manufacture, adapted particularly for mass production by injection molding from plastic materials, and one which may be assembled and disassembled with a minimum of effort.

A still further object of our invention is to provide apparatus for flushing diapers and the like which shall be light in weight and easily maintained in a clean and sanitary condition at all times.

Heretofore in the art to which our invention relates, many devices have been proposed for flushing articles, such as diapers, delicate fabrics and the like. However, such apparatus has been unsatisfactory due to the fact that it is diflicult to assemble and disassemble the apparatus and at the same time a maximum amount of cleaning solution is not circulated through the apparatus to assure thorough flushing of the diaper.

In accordance with our invention, we mount a pair of generally concave members adjacent each other so as to form a diaper receiving chamber therebetween. The lower concave member is formed of a resilient material and is perforated whereby cleaning solution is free to pass into and out of the same. The upper concave member is also formed of a resilient material but is imperforate whereby upon flexing of the upper concave member relative to the lower concave member a pumping action is brought about to thereby draw cleaning solution into the diaper receiving chamber and then expel the cleaning solution therefrom.

Apparatus embodying features of our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of our apparatus for flushing diapers and the like, the apparatus being shown in operating position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view showing the apparatus disassembled with the lowermost concave section nesting within the other concave section and the handle positioned therein for shipment and storage;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus, drawn to a smaller scale;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 showing the lower section separated from the upper section at one side thereof for receiving a diaper or the like;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the apparatus;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmental view taken generally along the line 66 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along the line 77 of FIG. 3; and,

FIG. 8 is a fragmental view showing a modified form of our invention in which the upper and lower sections of the apparatus are detachably connected to each other by C-clamps.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of our invention, we show a lower, upwardly opening concave section 10 which is formed of a suitable resilient or semi-rigid material, such as plastic or the like whereby upon deforming the material and then releasing the same it tends to return to its original shape. The upper edge of the lower section 10 is in the form of an outturned, annular flange 11, as shown. The lower section 10 is perforated and is preferably formed of an open mesh material whereby relatively large openings 12 are provided for the circulation of water or other cleaning solution therethrough.

Positioned on top of the lower, upwardly opening concave section 10 is an upper, downwardly opening concave section 13 which is formed of an imperforate resilient or semi-rigid material, such as plastic or the like, whereby upon deforming the material and then releasing the same it also tends to return to its original shape. An annular, outturned flange 14 is provided at the lower edge of the upper concave section 13 in position to engage the upper surface of the annular flange 11, as shown in FIG. 1, whereby a diaper receiving chamber is defined between the lower section 10 and the upper section 13.

The lower section 10 is hingedly connected to the upper section 13 at one side of the apparatus by suitable means, such as by providing openings 16 through the annular flange 14 in position to receive upstanding projections 17 carried by the annular flange 11, as shown in FIG. 6. The projections 17 are provided with enlarged upper ends, as shown, whereby after insertion of the projections into the openings 16, the sections are not separated from each other in the normal use of the apparatus. Accordingly, the resilient material forming the flanges 11 and 14 permits the lower section 10 and upper section 13 to move relative to each other from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 4.

Other angularly spaced openings 18 are provided in the annular flange 14, as shown in FIG. 7, in position to receive upstanding projections 19 carried by the lower annular flange 11. The openings 18 and projections 19 are of a size relative to each other to define releasable catch members for that side of the apparatus whereby the projections 19 may be readily snapped into the openings 18 to detachably hold that side of the apparatus in operating position, as shown in FIG. 1. It will thus be seen that in order to insert a diaper or the like into the chamber defined between the upper and lower sections 10 and 13, it is only necessary to separate the projections 19 from the openings 18 by urging the sections away from each other at that side of the apparatus. Since the projections 17 are not easily separated from the openings 16, there would be no separation at that side of the apparatus whereby an eflective hinge is provided.

To prevent lateral shifting of the lower section 10 relative to the upper section 13 during operation, an annular groove 21 is provided in the annular flange 11 in position to receive a depending projection 22 carried by the upper flange 14, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. While we have shown the groove as being in the lower flange 11 and the projection being in the upper flange 14 it will be apparent that the groove could be formed in upper section with the projection being formed in the lower section. In like manner, the openings 16 and 18 could be formed in the lower flanges 11 with the projections 17 and 19 being formed integrally with the upper sections 14, if desired. In View of the fact that this construction would merely be a reversal of parts, no detail description thereof is deemed necessary.

To flex the upper section 13 relative to the lower section 10, we provide an upstanding handle 23 which is detachably connected to a centrally disposed projection 24 carried by the upper section 13. An internally threaded opening 26 is provided in the member 24 for receiving a threaded end 27 of the handle 23. Accordingly, the handle may be moved from the assembled position shown in FIG. 1 to a disassembled position, as shown in FIG. 2, whereby it nests within the section 10 which in turn nests Within the section 13 for shipment and storage. It will be noted that the length of the handle 23 is slightly less than the diameter of the section 10 whereby it can be positioned therein for storage and shipment.

In FIG. 8 of, the drawing, we show a slightly modified form of our invention in which the lower, upwardly opening concave section 10 is provided with an annular, outturned flange 11 and the downwardly opening, upper section 13 is provided with an outturned annular flange 14 An annular recess 28 is provided in the under surface of the annular flange 11 and an-annular recess 29 is provided in the upper surface of the annular flange 14 as shown, to receive the ends of a C-clamp 31 whereby the upper and lower sections 10 and 13 are detachably connected to each other. It will be apparent that the grooves 28 and 29 may extend the entire distance around the upper and lower sections 10 and 13 or may be provided at angularly spaced intervals for receiving the C-clamps.

From the foregoing description, the operation of our improved apparatus for flushing diapers and the like will be readily understood. The apparatus is assembled by threadedly engaging the threaded section 27 of the handle 23 with the threaded opening 26 whereby the handle is secured firmly t the upper section 13. The projections 17 and 19 are then snapped into the openings 16 and 18, respectively, whereby the projections 17 and openings 16 define a hinge at one side of the apparatus. Since the projections 19 are adapted to snap into and out of the opening 18, releasable catch members are provided at that side of the apparatus whereby the upper and lower sections may be moved to open position, as shown in FIG. 4, for receiving a diaper or other article to be flushed or washed. With the article thus positioned in the chamber defined between the concave sections 16 and 13, the upper and lower sections are then moved toward each other whereby the projections 19 snap into the openings 18 to thereby retain the sections in assembled position, as shown in FIG. 1. The device is then positioned in a receptacle, such as a commode, containing water or other cleaning solution. With the apparatus submerged in the water or cleaning solution, the handle 23 is moved up and down whereupon the sections and 13 flex inwardly t-oward each other and then flex outwardly away from each other to thus impart a pumping action whereby water circulates through the openings 12 and through the diaper or other article to thoroughly flush the same. Also, relative movement of the sections 10 and 13 brings about a squeezing or pressing action which aids further in flushing and cleaning the diaper or the like. After initial flushing, the water in the commode may be flushed and replaced by clean water, The apparatus is then inserted in the clean water whereupon reciprocation of the handle 23 causes the clean solution to circulate through the openings 12 to thereby rinse the diaper or other article.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that we have devised an improved apparatus for flushing soiled diapers and the like with a minimum of effort. By encasing the diaper within upper and lower sections of the apparatus which are detachably connected to each other, the diaper remains completely out of contact with the hands of the operator during the flushing action. Also, by providing a lower perforated section 10 and an upper imperforate section which are adapted to fieX relative to each other, an improved pumping and squeezing action is provided which assures thorough circulation of water through the diaper but causes all portions of the diaper to move relative to each other whereby any solid materials which are lodged between layers are removed during the flushing action. By providing apparatus which may be formed of a light, resilient material, such as plastic, the apparatus is particularly adapted for mass production and is easily maintained in a clean and sanitary condition with a minimum of effort. Furthermore, by providing apparatus which completely encases the article being flushed, there is no possibility of the article being lost during the flushing operation.

While we have shown our invention in two forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and we desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. Apparatus for flushing diapersand the like with a cleaning solution comprising:

(a) an imperforate downwardly opening concave section of a resilient material, which after being deformed and released tends to return to itsv original shape,

v (b) a perforated upwardly opening concave section of aresilient material which after being deformed and released tends to return to its original shape,

(c) means connecting said upwardly opening concave section along its upper edge to the lower edge of said downwardly opening section to define therebetween a chamber for receiving a diaper,

(d) a handle connected to said downwardly opening section and projecting outwardly therefrom for fiexing said imperforate downwardly opening section relative to said upwardly opening section to impart a pumping action which draws cleaning solution into said chamber and then expels said cleaning solution fined in claim 1 in which the concave sections are hingedly connected to each other adjacent one side thereof and detachably connected to each other adjacent the other side thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,341,729 2/1944 Jonson 68--2l4 2,499,025 2/1950 Horvath 68-l56 X 2,522,242 9/1950 Wagner 68-17 X 2,618,143 11/1952 McConaughy 68-213 2,877,478 3/1959 Kohlwey et al 15119.1 2,973,600 3/1961 Reilly et a1. 6817 X FOREIGN PATENTS 182,095 5/ 1955 Austria.

IRVING BUNEVICH, Primary Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR FLUSHING DIAPERS AND THE LIKE WITH A CLEANING SOLUTION COMPRISING: (A) AND IMPERFORATE DOWNWARDLY OPENING CONCAVE SECTION OF A RESILIENT MATERIAL, WHICH AFTER BEING DEFORMED AND RELEASED TENDS TO RETURN TO ITS ORIGINAL SHAPE, (B) A PERFORATED UPWARDLY OPENING CONCAVE SECTION OF A RESILIENT MATERIAL WHICH AFTER BEING DEFORMED AND RELEASED TENDS TO RETURN TO ITS ORIGINAL SHAPE, (C) MEANS CONNECTING SAID UPWARDLY OPENING CONCAVE SECTION ALONG ITS UPPER EDGE TO THE LOWER EDGES OF SAID DOWNWARDLY OPENING SECTION TO DEFINE THEREBETWEEN A CHAMBER FOR RECEIVING A DIAPER, (D) A HANDLE CONNECTED TO SAID DOWNWARDLY OPENING SECTION AND PROJECTING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM FOR FLEXING SAID IMPERFORATE DOWNWARDLY OPENING SECTION RELATIVE TO SAID UPWARDLY OPENING SECTION TO IMPART A PUMPING ACTION WHICH DRAWS CLEANING SOLUTION INTO SAID CHAMBER AND THEN EXPELS SAID CLEANING SOLUTION THEREFROM AND, (E) MEANS DETACHABLY CONNECTING AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID UPPER EDGE OF THE UPWARDLY OPENING SECTION TO SAID LOWER EDGE OF THE DOWNWARDLY OPENING SECTION TO DEFINE MEANS FOR INTRODUCING AND REMOVING DIAPERS. 